Today: the next chapter in "Monarchs of England!" We have a sordid tale of war, lust, and betrayal. The often overlooked and rocky reign of Edward IV, the first Yorkist king!
- Born in 1442, Son of Richard, Duke of York, and his wife Cecily Neville. (House Neville was a hugely important Yorkist house, just as the Beauforts were to the Lancasters.)
- LIke most Plantagenets, was huge for his time. At six and a half feet tall, he was the tallest English monarch in history. He was also a beefy fellow, known for his ability in war. (Like his father.)
- When his father died in battle, Edward inherited his father's claim to the throne. With the help of Richard "The Kingmaker" Neville, Earl of Warwick (His cousin) and George, the Duke of Clarence (His younger brother) Edward rallied the Yorkist army and captured king Henry VI at Northampton in 1461.
- He supposedly treated king Henry VI fairly well at this time, refusing to kill or injure him. However, he also refused to ransom him.
- Queen Margaret retreated to the midlands and continued to fight in her husband's name.
- Meanwhile Richard Neville took London, and Edward was crowned King Edward IV. He ruled for nine years, even though the old king was still alive. The reason this was generally accepted was entirely because Edward controlled London, the seat of power and commerce. Though surely some people grumbled about it, the Lancastrians were now an outside threat, not a family under siege.
- Edward spent these years virtually destroying the Lancastrian armies and stealing their allies. Owen Tudor, the minor lord who had become Henry V's widows' lover, was killed in battle, his head put on a pike and lit with 100 candles for all to see. (His son, Henry, was smuggled out to France.) Edward's reign seemed totally secure.... until he fell in love.
- The first time was with a buxom young widow named Eleanor Butler. Eleanor seduced the king (or maybe vice versa) and secretly got him to agree to marry her. Although he probably never did, this would be important later. VERY important.
- Amazingly, the SAME trick got played on Edward AGAIN in the form of Elizabeth Woodville.
- Elizabeth Woodville was a GENTRY woman who had the great fortune of having her father being elevated to a minor noble role by a scandal. A duchess had fallen in love with a lowly knight, gotten pregnant, and married him. Elizabeth and her 12 siblings were hungry and poor (at least by noble standards.). However, Elizabeth married a minor Lancastrian lord. Then, tragically, he died fighting Edward's army. Now a widow, Elizabeth faced destitution and a return to a peasant's life.
- Elizabeth threw herself at king Edward, begging for aid. Edward, now 22 years old and allegedly a very randy fellow, was easily seduced. Edward IV married the BARELY noble Elizabeth Woodville, elevating the Woodville family to staggering social heights with one hasty marriage.
- The marriage of the king to a lowborn seductress did NOTHING to improve relations with his nobles. Richard Neville was particularly humiliated, as he had been negotiating for a political marriage with countries on the continent.
- The Woodvilles, now elevated, more or less dominated and controlled all of king Edward's decisions. The king was said to be hopelessly in love/lust with his buxom young wife, and her father was given the title of "1st Earl Rivers." An EARLSHIP??? for a man born a LOWLY KNIGHT? The world had gone mad!
- Richard Neville grew more and more angry at Edward, as Edward discarded his counsel for that of his wife. Also pushed to the side was George, the king's younger brother.
- After years of watching the king be manipulated by his wife, Richard and George defected, joining the exiled Queen Margaret. This betrayal was as deep as it got, but Edward tried to make amends and reconcile with the two of them.
- Refusing all advances to reconcile, Richard Neville led an army against king Edward IV. This army was crushed, and Richard Neville was killed in battle. The "Kingmaker," one of the most important lords of his time, was dead. The Nevilles were still on the side of the Lancasters, however, and the fight intensified.
- Edward fled England, running to Flanders. He then returned to York, his home, as it technically WAS his land. York welcomed him, and he was soon joined by loyal Yorkist lords.
- George, the Duke of Clarence, now quite contrite and apologetic, begged forgiveness from his older brother. Edward was not forgiving, but their younger brother, Richard, convinced Edward to give George another chance. Edward needed George's men badly, so he forgave his middle brother. The three York brothers were again united against the re-crowned Henry VI. (And don't forget about Richard.)
- King Henry's forces crumbled under the rebuilt Yorkist army. Prince Edward, the king's son, died at the age of 17 in battle against Edward IV. King Henry soon followed him, most likely under orders of Edward IV.
- With his kingship now secured, Edward IV set forth to tie up all loose ends. Several lords who had betrayed him were put to death, all Lancastrian forces were forced to surrender or die, and his younger brother George, now no longer useful, was murdered by being drowned in a barrel of Malmsy wine. Edward was king, and no one was going to stop him... or his beloved wife.
- Edward was now blessed with not one, but TWO sons. (Edward and Richard.) The only possible rival was Henry Tudor, but he was living in exile, his father having been murdered by king Edward's forces years ago. Besides, as the son of a Beaufort, Henry Tudor was unable to inherit the throne, right? RIGHT????
- Edward attempted to make war on France, but the war was inconclusive. France agreed to pay Edward a bit of money every year to leave them alone. Edward agreed to this.
- In 1483, Edward contracted what was likely walking pneumonia and pleurisy. His son, Edward was only 13. Knowing he would soon die, Edward IV changed his will, naming his son the heir presumptive, and his youngest, and OF COURSE loyal little brother, Richard, as the protector of his two young sons. Surely good old Uncle Richard would take care of the two princes, right?
Riiiiiiiiiiiiight.
- Edward IV died after his health suddenly took a turn in 1483. His wife, in a panic, realized that there was no one to protect her and her family from the assembled nobility that truly detested them. The Woodville family was in true jeopardy. She grabbed their sons and attempted to head to London. However, they were intercepted by "Helpful" uncle Richard, who took the princes to the tower of London for their "protection."
Indeed.
- Born in 1442, Son of Richard, Duke of York, and his wife Cecily Neville. (House Neville was a hugely important Yorkist house, just as the Beauforts were to the Lancasters.)
- LIke most Plantagenets, was huge for his time. At six and a half feet tall, he was the tallest English monarch in history. He was also a beefy fellow, known for his ability in war. (Like his father.)
- When his father died in battle, Edward inherited his father's claim to the throne. With the help of Richard "The Kingmaker" Neville, Earl of Warwick (His cousin) and George, the Duke of Clarence (His younger brother) Edward rallied the Yorkist army and captured king Henry VI at Northampton in 1461.
- He supposedly treated king Henry VI fairly well at this time, refusing to kill or injure him. However, he also refused to ransom him.
- Queen Margaret retreated to the midlands and continued to fight in her husband's name.
- Meanwhile Richard Neville took London, and Edward was crowned King Edward IV. He ruled for nine years, even though the old king was still alive. The reason this was generally accepted was entirely because Edward controlled London, the seat of power and commerce. Though surely some people grumbled about it, the Lancastrians were now an outside threat, not a family under siege.
- Edward spent these years virtually destroying the Lancastrian armies and stealing their allies. Owen Tudor, the minor lord who had become Henry V's widows' lover, was killed in battle, his head put on a pike and lit with 100 candles for all to see. (His son, Henry, was smuggled out to France.) Edward's reign seemed totally secure.... until he fell in love.
- The first time was with a buxom young widow named Eleanor Butler. Eleanor seduced the king (or maybe vice versa) and secretly got him to agree to marry her. Although he probably never did, this would be important later. VERY important.
- Amazingly, the SAME trick got played on Edward AGAIN in the form of Elizabeth Woodville.
- Elizabeth Woodville was a GENTRY woman who had the great fortune of having her father being elevated to a minor noble role by a scandal. A duchess had fallen in love with a lowly knight, gotten pregnant, and married him. Elizabeth and her 12 siblings were hungry and poor (at least by noble standards.). However, Elizabeth married a minor Lancastrian lord. Then, tragically, he died fighting Edward's army. Now a widow, Elizabeth faced destitution and a return to a peasant's life.
- Elizabeth threw herself at king Edward, begging for aid. Edward, now 22 years old and allegedly a very randy fellow, was easily seduced. Edward IV married the BARELY noble Elizabeth Woodville, elevating the Woodville family to staggering social heights with one hasty marriage.
- The marriage of the king to a lowborn seductress did NOTHING to improve relations with his nobles. Richard Neville was particularly humiliated, as he had been negotiating for a political marriage with countries on the continent.
- The Woodvilles, now elevated, more or less dominated and controlled all of king Edward's decisions. The king was said to be hopelessly in love/lust with his buxom young wife, and her father was given the title of "1st Earl Rivers." An EARLSHIP??? for a man born a LOWLY KNIGHT? The world had gone mad!
- Richard Neville grew more and more angry at Edward, as Edward discarded his counsel for that of his wife. Also pushed to the side was George, the king's younger brother.
- After years of watching the king be manipulated by his wife, Richard and George defected, joining the exiled Queen Margaret. This betrayal was as deep as it got, but Edward tried to make amends and reconcile with the two of them.
- Refusing all advances to reconcile, Richard Neville led an army against king Edward IV. This army was crushed, and Richard Neville was killed in battle. The "Kingmaker," one of the most important lords of his time, was dead. The Nevilles were still on the side of the Lancasters, however, and the fight intensified.
- Edward fled England, running to Flanders. He then returned to York, his home, as it technically WAS his land. York welcomed him, and he was soon joined by loyal Yorkist lords.
- George, the Duke of Clarence, now quite contrite and apologetic, begged forgiveness from his older brother. Edward was not forgiving, but their younger brother, Richard, convinced Edward to give George another chance. Edward needed George's men badly, so he forgave his middle brother. The three York brothers were again united against the re-crowned Henry VI. (And don't forget about Richard.)
- King Henry's forces crumbled under the rebuilt Yorkist army. Prince Edward, the king's son, died at the age of 17 in battle against Edward IV. King Henry soon followed him, most likely under orders of Edward IV.
- With his kingship now secured, Edward IV set forth to tie up all loose ends. Several lords who had betrayed him were put to death, all Lancastrian forces were forced to surrender or die, and his younger brother George, now no longer useful, was murdered by being drowned in a barrel of Malmsy wine. Edward was king, and no one was going to stop him... or his beloved wife.
- Edward was now blessed with not one, but TWO sons. (Edward and Richard.) The only possible rival was Henry Tudor, but he was living in exile, his father having been murdered by king Edward's forces years ago. Besides, as the son of a Beaufort, Henry Tudor was unable to inherit the throne, right? RIGHT????
- Edward attempted to make war on France, but the war was inconclusive. France agreed to pay Edward a bit of money every year to leave them alone. Edward agreed to this.
- In 1483, Edward contracted what was likely walking pneumonia and pleurisy. His son, Edward was only 13. Knowing he would soon die, Edward IV changed his will, naming his son the heir presumptive, and his youngest, and OF COURSE loyal little brother, Richard, as the protector of his two young sons. Surely good old Uncle Richard would take care of the two princes, right?
Riiiiiiiiiiiiight.
- Edward IV died after his health suddenly took a turn in 1483. His wife, in a panic, realized that there was no one to protect her and her family from the assembled nobility that truly detested them. The Woodville family was in true jeopardy. She grabbed their sons and attempted to head to London. However, they were intercepted by "Helpful" uncle Richard, who took the princes to the tower of London for their "protection."
Indeed.